Fresh Vegetables in Connecticut, March 2009

Dear Mad Hatters,

Spring is finally here!  The last patch of snowy ice is melting away, the fields are drying out and things are happening on the farm.  We have kept busy this winter with many improvements.  In the barn we've built a new cooler room, so that we can keep more produce fresher, healthier and safer, which means we can harvest in greater quantities.  We've poured over seed catalogs, and are planning to grow many of our favorite standards, some new delicious suprises, and a few types of things we've never grown before.  And last but not least, our hoop house is up and running!

For those of you with us last year, you may recall our hoop house was not even standing until May of last year, and thus it was basically useless for the growing season.  The hoop house reaches highs of 100+ degrees and lows in the teens at night, so we needed a way to better control the temperature for optimal growth.  This winter we installed roll-up sides, a double-wall of plastic (for better insulation), a heater and wooden ends, and ...Ta-dah...it works.  We usually start seeds in our basement because we've had no other alternative, but this moring Jeff moved our whole seeding operation out to the hoop house.  Watch out world, we're on a roll!

We have currently seeded in flats several varieties of onions - Yellow Mustang, Red Wing (red) and a green onion named Parade.  Bandit Leeks are starting to germinate - those are the really big fat leeks.  All the brassicas - broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage etc. - are being seeded, and next up will be beets and greens like spinach, arugula and chard.  

Please check out our website at www.madhatterfarm.com for pictures of the farm, recipes, stories and more.

CSA Shares are still available and can be purchased at our store or by calling the farm at (860) 824-7635.

We hope everyone is happy and healthy and enjoying this fine day.

"Adopt the pace of nature:  her secret is patience."  -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Spring!

Alix

Mad Hatter Farm

135 Music Mountain Road

Falls Village, CT 06031

860-824-7635

www.madhatterfarm.com